Maoists on Saturday afternoon abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, a 2006 batch IAS officer, at gunpoint from a Gram Suraaj Abhiyan (GSA) meeting after killing his two gunmen. This is the fourth case of abduction in recent months. The GSA is a state-government-run programme meant to promote greater coordination and connect between villagers and the administration in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.
Government officials in New Delhi termed it a “terror” attack by the Maoists. Ministry of home affairs officials said there may be a need to formulate a policy to deal with hostage situations but first a consensus has to be arrived at with state governments.
Security officials said a “no-negotiation” policy may be the best way forward given the fact that Naxals have grown emboldened after the Orissa government began the process of releasing Maoist prisoners following the abduction of two Italians, and the kidnapping of BJD MLA Jina Hikaka who remains a Maoist hostage. But the issue of a no-negotiation policy requires consensus with state governments, another official said.